Biography of Rev. Herries G. EdgarOregon Biographies

REV. HERRIES GRANT EDGAR.
Among the prominent men of Oregon City is Rev. Herries Grant Edgar, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of
that city. Rev. Mr. Edgar is a native of the state of New York, born in 1873, a son of John and Isabella (Herries)
Edgar. His father was a United Presbyterian minister and was a native of South America, where his parents were
temporarily living. Rev. Mr. Edgar's grandfather was at that time engaged in the cabinet making business in South
America.

Rev. Herries Grant Edgar received a good education, his elementary education being obtained in the grade schools
of New York and later at the Union College in Pennsylvania. He later attended the Westminster College and was graduated
therefrom with the degree of A. B., being later engaged as professor of Latin in this college. Deciding to follow
in his father's footsteps and enter the ministry, he attended the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, from which he
was graduated in 1899. For the first two years after completing his theological course he engaged in slum work
in Pittsburgh. In 1901 he received his appointment to his first charge, which was at Colfax, Washington, and there
he served until 1906, when he was called to Seattle, serving the Olympic church for seven years. He then took charge
of the Union Park church at Spokane, Washington, where he remained for two years, after which he removed to Seattle
and took charge of the Queen Anne church. For three years he labored there and then the World war broke out. His
patriotism immediately overshadowed everything else, and so, resigning his church duties he went to France as secretary
of a unit of the Y. M. C. A., attached to the Three Hundred and Twelfth Engineers. In July, 1919, Rev. Mr. Edgar
returned to the United States, accepted a call to the First Presbyterian church of Oregon City, and is now serving
that church with ability. He has always been active in any work pertaining to the ministry and when he was serving
in Seattle he was president of the Seattle Ministers' Association and also served as secretary of that association
for a term. He has served as moderator of the synod of Columbia and has by his energy and kindliness built up every
church which he has been called upon to serve.

In 1902 Rev. Mr. Edgar was united in marriage to Miss Mary Hayes McCahon, daughter of John and Annie (Hayes) McCahon,
residents of Washington county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Edgar is a direct descendant of John R. Rebout, who was of French
Huguenot extraction and a soldier of the American Revolution, and she is an active member in the Daughters of the
American Revolution. Four children have been born to Rev. and Mrs. Edgar, namely: Catharine Jean, a student in
the Oregon City high school; Mary McCahon; John; and Helen Hayes

In his civil and his ministerial life Rev. Mr. Edgar is equally active. He is ever ready to give assistance in
improving the intellectual and moral status of his community and is one of the most active members of the Commercial
Club of Oregon City. With true Scotch tenacity he never swerves from his purpose until it is completed to his satisfaction
and with his stanch devotion to his faith it is not strange that he is universally regarded as a valuable citizen.